African Tax Chiefs Urge Homegrown Solutions at ATAF Conference
By Patience Ikpeme
Tax administrators from across Africa gathered in Lagos for a three-day meeting of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), with a call for continent-specific solutions to address tax challenges.
Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and president of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA), emphasized the importance of African-led solutions. “The problems of Africa can only be sincerely solved by Africans,” Adedeji declared.
He urged member countries to prioritize ATAF activities, highlighting that “solutions to our challenges reside with us in Africa. Nobody can tell our stories better than ourselves.”
Adedeji stressed the need to showcase Africa’s capabilities on the global stage. “We cannot continue to rely on solutions from platforms that are not indigenous to us,” he stated.
The FIRS chairman emphasized that ATAF’s success hinges on collective action. He called on member countries to “take ATAF matters seriously and abide by the rules set.”
Adedeji acknowledged the valuable contributions of ATAF’s current Executive Secretary, Mr. Logan Wort, whose term comes to an end in March 2025. He emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth leadership transition.
Edward Kieswetter, ATAF vice chairman and Commissioner General of the South African Revenue Service, highlighted the organization’s role in technology and capacity building. “The world has moved on and technology and data are increasingly defining the work we do,” Kieswetter stated. “ATAF creates a common voice when we speak at the broader community of interests in the world.”
Headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, ATAF was established in 2009. It serves as a platform for African tax administrators to: build capacity; achieve revenue objectives and advance the role of taxation in African governance and state building
The ATAF Council, which meets twice annually, provides strategic leadership for the organization and reports to the General Assembly, a forum for all member countries.
The Lagos meeting brought together tax leaders from across Africa, including: Dr. Philippe Tchodie (Togo), ATAF chairman, Edward Kieswetter (South Africa), ATAF vice chairman, Representatives from Botswana, Rwanda, Zambia, Morocco, Burundi, Gambia, Uganda, and the ATAF Secretariat led by Executive Secretary Logan Wort.
This gathering of African tax authorities signifies a commitment to collaboration and innovation in addressing the continent’s unique tax challenges. By prioritizing local solutions and leveraging collective expertise, ATAF aims to strengthen tax administration across Africa.
